Issue #70 * June 30, 1999 * David A. Ridenour, Editor

* Fish and Wildlife Service to Compensate Whistle-blower
* Should Our Standards for Science Be Lower Than for Government?
* Elderly Woman Swimming Upstream, Thanks to Salmon Regulations

Fish and Wildlife Service to Compensate Whistle-Blower; Whistle-Blower
Had Objected to Diversion to "Slush Fund"

Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) agreed to
an out-of-court settlement with Jim Beers, a biologist the FWS tried to
oust from his job after he refused to go along with a plan to divert fish
and game funds to animal rights activists. Beer will receive $150,000, 168
hours of annual leave, attorney's fees and a letter of apology from the
agency. Beer's story first came to public attention thanks to the efforts
of the Virginia-based National Wilderness Institute (NWI), which has been
investigating FWS mismanagement for more than a year. Investigators learned
that a portion of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and Federal Aid
in Fish Restoration Act monies - which are supposed to go almost entirely
to state fish and wildlife departments for conservation efforts - instead
ended up in the "Director's Conservation Fund." Investigators
have branded the account a "slush fund." NWI has also been championing
the cause of FWS computer security specialist Bonnie Kline, whose security
clearance was withdrawn and regular duties down-graded after she disobeyed
an order to be uncooperative in an administrative court hearing investigation.
For more information, contact Rob Gordon of NWI at 703/836-7404 or visit
their web site at http://www.nwi.org.

Should Our Standards for Science be Lower than for Government?;
Some Congressman Say "Yes" by Seeking Limits on Public Right to
Know

For more than 30 years, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has helped
the American people hold federal officials accountable for their actions
by granting them access to government documents that might otherwise have
been hidden from public view. It wasn't until last year, however, that this
law applied to government-funded scientific research. During the waning
days of the last Congress, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) successfully attached
an amendment to the 1999 omnibus spending law subjecting research developed
under government contracts -- except research affecting national security,
commercial data, trade secrets, medical and personnel records, law enforcement
information and geological data -- to FOIA.

The FOIA requirement is important because research data is used by the
federal government to develop and defend federal policies, findings and
regulations. Prior to approval of the Shelby amendment, members of the public
who objected to these policies or wanted to challenge them in court couldn't
examine the science the government claimed justified their policies and
rules.

Now Representatives James Walsh (R-NY) and David Price (D-NC) want to
repeal the Shelby amendment. They apparently believe that government-funded
science should be subject to even less rigorous scrutiny than federal agencies.
Under normal circumstances, the Walsh/Price initiative, which is expected
to go to a vote after Congress' July 4 recess, could be expected to go down
to a crushing defeat. After all, the Shelby Amendment protects the public's
right-to-know and was thus a "good government" initiative. But
these are not normal circumstances: Eager to preserve their privileges and
limit their responsibilities, universities - which are the largest employers
in some congressional districts - have been lobbying Members of Congress
hard on behalf of the Walsh/Price bill. For more information, contact David
Ridenour at (202) 507-6398 or [email protected],
or visit http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA237.html.

Elderly Woman Swimming Upstream, Thanks to Salmon Regulations

For seven years, Viola Allen, an ailing 72-year-old widow, has desperately
tried to sell her 8-acre property in Lynnwood, Washington to raise enough
money to move out of her dilapidated house.

Viola suffers from emphysema and must stay on oxygen all day. Her house
is in such poor condition that every time it rains - which is often in the
Pacific Northwest - her basement floods. The resulting mildew worsens her
medical condition.

But local environmentalists have blocked Viola from selling the land
by claiming that Tunnel Creek that runs through her property is vital salmon
habitat. This is a little hard to believe, however, as Tunnel Creek is completely
dry in the summer and has only a tiny trickle of water in the winter. Notes
Viola, "If salmon are going to get to Tunnel Creek, they would have
to sprout legs and walk up here."

Nevertheless, for now at least, Viola can't sell the land. It's not just
the salmon that are swimming upstream.

* Federal Court's Decision to Strike Down Air Standards Will Save Lives.
National Policy Analysis #248 shows how the EPA's more stringent air quality
standards would have placed America lives at risk. Copies may be obtained
at http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA248.html.

* The Campaign Against Urban Sprawl: Declaring War on the American Dream.
National Policy Analysis #239 explains why the Clinton Administration's
urban sprawl policies would create problems where none currently exist.
Copies may be obtained at http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA239.html.

* Supreme Court and Congress Act Against Junk Science. National Policy
Analysis #237 explains the data access issue and also examines a recent
Supreme Court decision that will have an impact on the testimony of expert
witnesses. Copies may be obtained at http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA237.html.

For copies of any of the above publications, contact David Almasi of
The National Center for Public Policy Research at (202) 507-6398 x106.

All editorial correspondence to The Relief Report should be
directed to: The National Center for Public Policy Research * 20 F Street, NW #700 * Washington, D.C. 20001 * (202) 507-6398 * Fax (301) 498-1301 * E-mail [email protected]
* Web http://www.nationalcenter.org.
Copyright 1999, The National Center for Public Policy Research. Coverage
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